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State of Maine

To all who shall see these Presents,

Greeting:

[to the left of the following paragraph is a circle with the word "Seal." underlined inside it and "William D. Williamson" written under it]

Know ye, That William D. Williamson, President of our Senate, and exercising the Office of Governor, reposing special trust in the integrity, ability and discretion of Prentiss Mellen, of Portland, Esquire, hath nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of our Council, appointed the said Prentiss Mellen, Esquire, to be one of our Justices of the Peace and of the Quorum, within and for each and every of our Counties, through the State:

WE therefore do hereby authorize and empower him to fulfil [fulfill] the duties of that office according to law; to cause to be kept the Laws and Ordinances made for the good of the Peace, and the conservation of the same; and to have & to hold the said office, together with all the powers, privileges and emoluments thereto of right appertaining, unto him the said Prentiss Mellen, Esquire, for the term of seven years, if he shall so long behave himself well in the said office.

In Testimony whereof, We have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and our Seal to be hereunto affixed: Witness the President of our Senate, exercising the office of Governor, at the Council Chamber, in Portland, the twenty second day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty one; and of the Independence of the United States the forty sixth.

By the President of the Senate, exercising the office of Governor.

Ashur Ware, Secretary of State

Qualified, February 23, 1822

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State of Maine.

Cumberland SS: February 23. 1822

Then personally appeared Prentiss Mellen, of Portland in said County of Cumberland Esq. and took and subscribed the oaths prescribed by the Constitution of this State and a law of the United States to qualify him to discharge the duties of the Office of a Justice of the Peace & Quorum throughout the State of Maine within and for the County aforesaid, to which he is appointed and commissioned

Before Wm T. Vaughan, Authorized by Ded. Potestatum

Sept 20th 1828 Recorded Secretary of State